The Masters is back in Springtime after a very weird year last year, but as the first PGA tour event this season, it is ready to take us back to golfing bliss very soon. Some people watch it for the beauty of the game, but most people watch it because they support a specific player. When you back a specific player to win, all their performances become much more exhilarating. If you haven’t picked a favourite, have a look at those the professional pundits are backing.
DJ
Dustin Johnson, or DJ as he’s affectionately referred to, won the last Masters in November with a winning score of 20-under. He deserved to win, especially despite the weirdness of playing the Masters without Spring’s noted vibrancy. Johnson is now looking to defend his emotionally-fought title. If he manages it, he’ll be only one in four players to ever win two seasons in a row, including Nicklaus, Faldo, and Tiger Woods. Without Tiger, DJ’s position is strong, and he is currently the favorite of Masters Betting Odds, but any golf fan knows how tough his job is this year.
Patrick Cantlay
Patrick Cantlay is causing a lot of buzz this year, despite not being in the top 5 favorites on betting sites. He came so close to sporting the Green Jacket in 2019, but Tiger Woods stormed ahead and won in an extremely exciting competition that no golf fan will forget.
Cantlay sure does look like he could be a future winner, but will it be this year? Last year he shot 66 in the second round before slipping, but he is a strong all-round player, and conditions should reduce some of his competition. He’s very fit and has been practicing his ball control with his mentor, the legendary Fred Couples, which should give him a nice edge over the competition.
Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson has won 8 times on the PGA Tour and won the US Open last year in 2020. He became the third player in history to ever win both the NCAA Division I championship, the US Amateur, and the US Open. Just like Tiger Woods, Bryson The Scientist has successfully matured from excellent amateur to excellent pro golfer. He is rated as the second-highest chance of winning by many betting sites as he seeks to continue his excellent driving, which helped to win him the US Open last year after he tacked on 40 pounds of mass.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has not won a major golf championship since 2014, but pundits (including Paul McGinley, former Ryder captain) think he still has it in him. He’s 31 years old but has added big names like Pete Cowen to his team of coaches after his recent poor form. Rory is less limited by his physical ability – he is still in great shape and has terrific driving potential – but his issue is his focus, his inspiration, and confidence. He can lose his attention and start to nosedive in a vicious psychological cycle. If he lands that very first swing, he might be able to beat his demons and take the Green Jacket.